Dust-cap for tire-valves.



E. A. ALEXANDER.

DUST CAP FOR TIRE VALVES.

APPLICATION FILED TIM/14.1915.

LlfilfiVfi, Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

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nrnn'rn a. ALEXANDER, or nocnns'rnn, new roman, ASSIGNOR. T0 cnnsrnn A.

' HERLE, or nocnns'rnn, NEW YORK.

DUST-CAP FOR TIRE-VALVES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 23, 1915,

Application filed May 14, 1915. Serial N0. 28,070.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ELIZABETH A. ALEX- ANDER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Dust-Cap for Tire-Valves, fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawm s.

' lhe present invention relates to dust caps for tire valves and an object thereof is to provide a simple and inexpensive construction which may be applied to or removed from the stem of a tire valve without the slow process of turning the cap through a great number of rotations for connecting or disconnecting with screw threads on the stem, provision being made for securing a binding engagement with the stem increas ing when the cap is moved in the dlrectlon of withdrawal except when the cap is intentionally withdrawn.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain parts and combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view 1n side elevation of the improved cap; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 at right angles to position shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line aa, Fig. 2 showing the cap applied to a valve stem; Fig. 4 is a section on the line b-b, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the binding lever.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the valve stem of the form which is usually flattened on opposite sides and externally threaded at 3 between the flattened portions. The 'form of this stem, so far as the present invention is concerned, may be of any suitable construction.

For cooperation with the stem, there is provided a cap 4 which preferably is flattened on opposite sides at 5 to conform to the exterior of the stem and is therefore noncircular, thus preventing its being turned on the stem. The cap acts as a slip cover for the stem and has thereon manually operable means preferably in the form of two devices each of which has its engaging face or portion movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cap and also movable inwardly as said portion moves toward the open end of the cap, so as to enter in binding engagement with the valve stem, such engagement increasing when the cap is moved in the direction of withdrawal. Preferably, these devices are in the form of levers 5 arranged at diametrically opposite points on the cap to turn about axes 6. which are mounted in laterally offset portions or pockets 7 struck up from the metal of the cap body 4 and opening toward the open end of the cap. The levers are preferably formed from sheet metal bent into U-shape in cross section at one end and having the other end formed into a finger piece 8. The pivot 6 passes through the arms of the U-shaped portion and the latter on each lever carries two engaging portions 9 for entering into cooperation with the stem. These engaging portions in this instance are in the form of teeth for engaging the threads on the valve stem and are located eccentrically with reference to the axis 6 so that they tend to move, not only in the direction of the length of the cap, but also inwardly, thus increasing the binding action on the stem, should pressure be applied to the cap to withdraw the samewithout operating the levers 5 In order to give the engaging portions 9 a normal tendency to move to binding positions, the levers 5 are spring-pressed, the springs 10, in this instance, being coiled about the pivots 6 andhaving two arms 11 and 12 engaging respectively the levers and the dust cap. v

To apply the cap, the finger pieces 8 are pressed toward each other, thus moving the engaging portions 9 away from each other and toward the closed end of the cap owing to the eccentric arrangement of the engaging portions on the levers. The cap may now be slipped over the stem by a quick movement and when in proper position the release of the finger pieces 8 will cause the engaging portions 9 to enter into binding engagement with the valve stem. This binding engagement increases if anattempt is made to withdraw the cap from the stem without operating the levers but the cap may be easily removed if the finger pieces are again pressed toward each other.

A dust cap made in accordance with this invention may be quickly and easily applied to or removed from a valve stem. It enters into binding engagement with the stem and this binding engagement increases if a pull is exerted on the cap without operating the levers.

plied to stems which are externally threaded, it is apparent that it is not limited to this use but may be used on stems of other forms.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dust cap for tire valves comprising a cap body and a manually operable device having its engaging portion arranged at a point between the two ends of the cap and movable in the direction of the length of the cap and also inwardly as it moves toward the open end of the cap to increase the binding engagement with the valve stem when the cap is moved in the direction of withdrawal.

2. A dust cap for tire valves comprisinga cap body, and a manually operable device pivotally mounted on the body and having an eccentrically-arranged portion mounted between the two ends of the cap and movable in the direction of the length of the cap and also inwardly as it moves toward the open end of the cap for entering into binding engagement with a valve stem.

3. A dust cap for tire valves comprising a cap body, and a manually operable springpressed device having its engaging portion mounted between the two ends of the cap movable in the direction of the length of the cap and also inwardly as it moves toward the open end of the cap to enter into' binding engagement with a valve stem.

4. A dust cap for tire valves comprising a cap body, a manually operable lever pivoted to the cap body and having .a portion thereof mounted between the two ends of the cap and movable in the direction of the length of the cap and also inwardly as'it moves toward the open end of the cap to enter into bindingengagement with a valve stem, and a spring for moving said lever to cause such binding engagement.

. 5. A dust cap for tire valves comprising a cap body, a manuallyoperable device having a tooth thereon situated between the two ends of the cap movable in the direction of the length of the cap and also inwardly as it moves toward the open end of the cap, and aspring acting on said device to cause the tooth to move into connection with the valve stem.

6. A dust cap for tire valves comprising a cap body, a pair of manually operable levers mounted on the cap body at diametrically opposite points thereon and each having an ecentrically arranged tooth situated between the two ends of the cap, and springs actin on said levers to move the teeth in the direction of the length toward the open end of the cap and also inwardly.

ELIZABETH A. ALEXANDER. 

